PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has publicly distanced the party’s political decision-making from Aleema Khan, claiming that party founder Imran Khan explicitly instructed him not to be “subordinate” to his sister’s political understanding. The fallout follows a series of sharp exchanges between party leadership and Aleema Khan over the cancellation of the April 9 Pindi rally and concerns regarding Imran Khan’s health in Adiala Jail.

Speaking to reporters, Raja claimed that Imran Khan has repeatedly told him that Aleema’s political “sense” is limited.

“Khan Sahab told me many times never to be subordinate to Aleema in political decisions,” Raja said, adding that he was revealing this for the first time. He stated that the former prime minister has provided a specific list of individuals for consultation to determine the party’s political course of action.

Raja dismissed Aleema’s suggestions of aggressive protests, such as blocking the Attock Bridge. “Blocking Attock Bridge is not a strategy. Who will even do it?” he questioned. He warned that attempts to storm cities with small groups of supporters would only result in ” dead bodies,” stressing that the party’s priority is to remain organized and build alliances with other political forces.

The internal rift widened over the cancellation of the Rawalpindi protest on April 9. While Aleema Khan was unhappy on the decision, suggesting that party leadership surrendered to government requests without getting anything in return, Raja defended the move as a direct order from Imran Khan.

“The decision to cancel the April 9 rally was absolutely correct,” Raja said. He explained that diplomats and international journalists were arriving in Islamabad for a major conference, making the area a high-security zone.

He confirmed that lawyer Salman Safdar relayed the instructions directly from jail. “Safdar called me as soon as he stepped out of Adiala. He told me and Sohail Afridi on a conference call that Khan Sahab wants the Pindi rally canceled and a larger one organized in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within ten days”.

The exchange turned heated when Raja was asked about allegations of “facilitation” involving the government. While Raja did not name the source of the specific label, he expressed visible frustration over the narrative being built.

“What was said is wrong and completely baseless. It cannot be accepted at all,” Raja responded. He admitted thst “bitterness” and “distance” currently existed between him and Aleema Khan, noting that he has already conveyed his opinions to her. “Everyone’s honour is sacred. Fingers cannot be pointed at anyone,” he added.

Aleema Khan has remained a vocal critic of the PTI leadership’s perceived inaction regarding Imran Khan’s health, specifically his failing eyesight. She claimed that while the party celebrated news that his eye was “90 percent recovered,” the reality is far grimmer.

“Imran Khan told Salman Safdar he cannot see him and cannot read books anymore. The doctor says the damage is permanent,” Aleema told the press. She accused the government of “torture” through solitary confinement and criticized PTI office-bearers for not putting enough pressure on the administration.

“Where is the political committee? Where is Gohar Sahab? They all reach Imran when they want to cancel a rally, but no one raises a voice for his medical treatment,” she said.

Aleema demanded that PTI’s 70,000 office-bearers lead from the front rather than asking workers to face arrests. She suggested that leaders should sit at Attock until Khan is moved to a hospital.

Raja, however, defended the legal team’s efforts, noting he attends every hearing at Adiala. He admitted that the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) has faced organizational challenges but claimed that the process of strengthening the wing has already begun across Pakistan.